| Author | Message | ||
     EAB Citizen Username: Elizabethann Post Number: 71 Registered: 1-2005 |
I have just become a "Big Sister" to an 11 year old girl through Newark's Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I am really excited about being a mentor but I would LOVE ideas about fun things to do with an 11 year old girl. She like physical activities. Especially gymnastics. I am open to hearing suggestions of things that might be fun for her age group. I'm a cool chick but a little clueless when it comes to this kind of thing. It surely will be great for both of us but I am open to suggestions from those who know pre-teens! Thanks so much in advance!  P.S. I have ideas but want to hear yours...  | ||
| Nancy - LibraryLady Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 3703 Registered: 5-2001  |
Sign her up for the Summer Reading Program at the SOPL. Thanks to the genrous merchants of South Orange, there are tons of terrific prizes she could win. | ||
| Elaine Harris Citizen Username: Elaineharris Post Number: 220 Registered: 12-2004 |
Start a scrapbook with pictures and souvenirs of what you do together. Do one page per visit. | ||
| EAB Citizen Username: Elizabethann Post Number: 73 Registered: 1-2005 |
Nancy and Elaine, Great ideas! Love them! She likes to read so we'll stop by the library and take a picture of us their for our scrapbook. You all are great. Bring it on! This is so helpful! Thank you. What are the library hours? | ||
| Nancy - LibraryLady Supporter Username: Librarylady Post Number: 3704 Registered: 5-2001 |
lIBRARY SUMMER HOURS ARE 9-9 M<T and Thurs, 9-6 W and F and 2-5 on Sunday.(Kids room closes at 6 on Tuesday but often has other activities. ) Check the calendar at www.sopl.org. | ||
| shestheone Citizen Username: Shestheone Post Number: 301 Registered: 5-2003 |
It might seem overly simple to you but she might enjoy just spending a day in Memorial park. Play on the playground, feed the ducks, sit and talk, have a picnic. Maybe even let her wade in the water if she's interested. There are a lot of wonderful little nooks and crannies in the park that my kids have discovered. | ||
| Sherri De Rose Citizen Username: Honeydo Post Number: 351 Registered: 11-2005 |
Rich has been involved in the Big Brother program for 8 years. His "Little" moved to CT 7 years ago but they are still a "team" and get together whenever they can. It has enriched his life beyond words. Anyway, did you know that in Cranford (only 10 minutes away) you can rent a canoe and row down the waterway there? If you need other info on that let me know. There are also boat rentals in Verona. | ||
| SoOrLady Citizen Username: Soorlady Post Number: 3429 Registered: 9-2003 |
With all the rain we've had the waterfall at the reservation might be a nice destination for a picnic. | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1029 Registered: 5-2004  |
If she's athletically inclined, maybe the two of you could try rock-climbing - there's a great wall at Diamond Gymnastics on Rt 10 West. It has varying levels of difficulty which could be fun. Call ahead, you might need to make reservations(973) 560-0414. Then, afterward, you could take her to the place in the same building but around the corner which I can't remember the name of - is it called Funplex? Anyway, it is sort of like a Chuckie cheese inside (without the mouse) but there is also a huge plastic ball play area that you can get inside and collect balls and fire them at each other with air gun things, and fill huge buckets and enjoy when they all tumble out all over everyone - hard to describe, but kids LOVE it (parents love it when it's time to leave, but once or twice a year is good since the kids love it so much). There are also a few simple rides & bumper cars. If she can ice skate, take her to South Mountain Arena during a public skate. If she can't skate, maybe sign her up for lessons? (Sorry, that may be a bit expensive, but I'm not sure if you are a teen or an adult who might be able to swing the expense.) Paintin' the Plates is always a big hit with my kids, and something you could do together. If you're artistically inclined, you could get a craft idea book (maybe from the library) and choose projects together that would be fun to make - then she could have keepsakes to take home with her. Great photo fodder for your scrap book! Or, if you knit you could teach her and give her a new life skill (and if you can't, you could learn together - I heard there are great classes at a new yarn store in Montclair - maybe there is something more local too.) Teach her to play tennis, go bike riding... Have fun! | ||
| Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 1030 Registered: 5-2004 |
Oh, and what little girl doesn't love jewelry? Maybe take her to The Beaded Path in Maplewood on Springfield Ave. | ||
| Wilkanoid Citizen Username: Cseleosida Post Number: 606 Registered: 10-2002 |
Sherri -- How do you go about renting a canoe in Cranford? Sounds like a nice way to spend a lazy afternoon. W | ||
| EAB Citizen Username: Elizabethann Post Number: 86 Registered: 1-2005 |
Update... since I became a big sister I have seen my "little" once. Her mother hasn't been returning my calls on her behalf. Very frustrating. I have no idea what the family "issues" are but it's such a shame. I will keep trying to call and then let it go I guess. You all had such great suggestions and I will use them one way or another. Thanks. | ||
| eliz Supporter Username: Eliz Post Number: 1630 Registered: 5-2001 |
EAB - if I can offer a little advice - keep trying at least for a while. We were a host family for a Fresh Air Fund child for a few years. The hardest part is dealing with the family issues - some of the stuff the Mom did/said/wanted I had to just seperate from what and who the child was. The phone would be disconnected, calls not returned etc - none of it reflected our "child" and her wants and needs. Can the organization give you a heads up on what is going on? | ||
| DReese Citizen Username: Dreese Post Number: 33 Registered: 6-2006 |
Has anyone been to the turtle back zoo and if so, is that worth going to for a 2 year old? | ||
| DReese Citizen Username: Dreese Post Number: 34 Registered: 6-2006 |
Has anyone been to the turtle back zoo and if so, is that worth going to for a 2 year old? | ||
| Pizzaz Supporter Username: Pizzaz Post Number: 4217 Registered: 11-2001  |
3 dollars admission for kids... take a look. http://www.turtlebackzoo.com/home.html | ||
| Rastro Citizen Username: Rastro  Post Number: 3728 Registered: 5-2004  |
The Turtleback Zoo is great for a young kid. It's small enough that you can see a lot before they lose interest, but big enough to have a decent assortment of animals. There's a prairie dog mound that you can get into, though a two year old might be a little small for it. There's a nice train ride to nowhere, through the reservation. It's short, but the kids seem to love it. They have a new bear exhibit too. They're doing some work on a few new areas, but there's always things to see. An the price is right. It's an easy way to entertain them for a morning or afternoon. | ||
| DReese Citizen Username: Dreese Post Number: 37 Registered: 6-2006 |
thanks.. will check it out. | ||
| anotherkittie Citizen Username: Anotherkittie Post Number: 126 Registered: 4-2006 |
Turtle Back Zoo is GREAT for little kids. I take my 16 month there all the time. Became members for the year because it made financial sense. | ||
| Illuminated Radish Citizen Username: Umoja Post Number: 56 Registered: 6-2006 |
Turtle Back Zoo is a STAPLE of growing up in North Jersey. If you don't take kids there, you should be brought up for child abuse. Why live here but for the Turtle Back Zoo. I was even gonna say something sarcastic like "Smoke pot, and go to Blockbuster and rent porn." But going to the Turtle Back Zoo is a much better idea, and much mroe feasible. Of course it's not actually in SO/Mplwd. Another good one, I just thought of, is the Reservation. My father was really found of taking me and family hiking there when I was kinda young. I complained like hell, but secretly I liked it. | ||
| Jersey_Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 1641 Registered: 1-2006  |
Posted at 2:36 am: "Smoke pot, and go to Blockbuster and rent porn." Hmm.... J.B. | ||
| red_alert Citizen Username: Red_alert Post Number: 326 Registered: 3-2005 |
Attend the BOT meetings. Better than going to a comedy club and you don't have to deal with the 2 drink minimum. |
